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One witness, who did not want to be named, said: 'I was eating breakfast when someone said there are guys outside on the floor, the police have got them on the floor in the car park. Four or five guys were taken away in police cars.

'They didn't enter McDonald's. Part of the car park was cordoned off.'

Another witness said: 'A man in the Mercedes was calmly having a coffee when two police cars surrounded the car. One came behind it and the other went right up to the driver's door.

'From there they bundled the guy out.

'The police helicopter was overhead the whole time. This happened at around 9.30am.'

One local told the Daily Record: 'You don't really expect this in Arbroath. Downtown LA perhaps, but not downtown Arbroath.'

One young woman, who managed to photograph some of the action, said: 'I saw the police with what looked like some kind of firearm. When they checked the boot of the Mercedes they were pointing firearms at it, as if waiting to see what was going to happen when it opened.'

Officers cuffed the gang just hours after they robbed an ATM machine from this Co-op store in Barry Street, Carnoustie

The Co-operative store was closed following the theft, which led to five people being quizzed by police

Former soldier Scott Barber, 41, who lives in the town, was with son Jay, 13, at McDonald's when the police swoop happened at breakfast time.

'There was a guy just walking about, looking out towards the sea. As soon as he got back into a white Mercedes, the police swooped.

'The police must have been watching them and waiting for the guy to get back in the car because as soon as he did, they pounced. I think they must have wanted to contain them.

'I heard "bang, bang, bang" and it looked like paintball ammunition. There was a purple puff in the air.

'I thought there were about four or five armed response unit members who rushed at the Mercedes and got the guys out of the car.'

Around 20 children were reportedly inside the McDonalds at the time and they watched the unfolding drama with their 'faces excitedly pressed against the windows'.

A policeman stands guard after armed officers swooped on a McDonald's chain in Arbroath yesterday

Superintendent Graeme Murdoch said: 'We received information that a vehicle of interest to the investigation was situated at the car park at McDonald's in Arbroath. Armed officers were deployed and immobilised the vehicle. A standard weapon was used to deflate the tyres on the vehicle. The ammunition used is designed for that purpose. The public were at no time in any danger.'

A spokesman for Police Scotland revealed the incident had now been referred to the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner (Pirc).

He said: 'As part of the operation, vehicle tyre deflation rounds were discharged directly into the vehicle tyres. In line with the routine procedure, this incident will be referred to Pirc for review.'

A spokesman for the review body said: 'The Pirc is currently in the process of assessing whether there is a requirement to investigate the matter.'

A spokeswoman for McDonald's said their Arbroath branch was closed for an hour as part of a police investigation unrelated to the restaurant.

She added: 'We are co-operating fully with the police in their inquiries.'